Farmers Support Porter County Ag Education through Gift of Grain Program
MALDEN, IN. — Porter County farmers have the opportunity to support local agriculture education programs by donating grain to the Porter County Community Foundation. In partnership with Co-Alliance Malden, proceeds from the sale of the donated grain are made available to the Agriculture Community Initiative Fund committee to decide how to effectively support and promote ag education in Porter County schools.
“As a farmer, you prepare, plant, nurture and grow. We do the same thing with gifts made to the Foundation,” said Bill Higbie, President & CEO of the Porter County Community Foundation. “Your gift will not only help kids in our community today, but that gift will be here, forever, to help ensure ag education programs are available in the future.”
Since 2017, the Gift of Grain kick-off has been held in conjunction with Chili Day. A decade-old tradition, Chili Day was started by local photographer and Valparaiso University Art Professor, Aimee Tomasek, to convey the community’s gratitude to farmers. Tomasek cooks the chili in an iron kettle over a wood fire outside the Co-Alliance office. This year ingredients were donated by Martha and Dave Sharp of Sharp School Services and Brad and Chris Metzger of Metzger Brothers Farms. Three members of the Morgan Township High School FFA chapter, Logan Grieger, Lane and Tyler Banks, assisted by serving chili.
Morgan Township resident and Gift of Grain supporter, Emily Remster, presented Ag teacher and FFA advisor, Rachel Stoner and her students with a quilt she made depicting the strong tradition of FFA in the community. Stoner’s father, Tim Stoner, is the founder and chairperson of the Agriculture Community Initiative Committee.
For more information about gifts of grain, please call Bill Higbie at 219.465.0294 or visit www.pccf.gives/giftofgrain.
The Porter County Community Foundation inspires enduring generosity and kindness in our community. Learn more at www.pccf.gives.
